We blame the industry for this… It used to be that when we wrapped up our Weekend Picks on Friday, we could coast through the weekend. There was little need to check in for updates -things were pretty much done. But clearly all that’s changed.

So here’s some of what’s happened in the world of craft beer while you were off enjoying yourselves.

Further Proof That We Were Celebrating Too Much at This Year’s World Beer Cup (Denver, CO) – Our buddy Casey Hollingsworth, the VP of Sales & Marketing for Fordham & Dominion, was busting our chops for not having mentioned their big World Beer Cup win in Denver and he had a right to. After all, taking a Gold Medal for Candi in the Belgian Tripel Category of an international competition is no small feat for anyone, let alone for a Dover, Delaware-based brewery known more for their traditional American flagships than for their adventuresome new directions. If you’ve not as yet tried Dominion Candi Belgian Tripel – you need to get that done. And you can thank us later.

New Belgium East Breaking Ground Soon (Ft Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing will be officially breaking ground and starting construction on their new Asheville facility on May 1. The new brewery and tasting room (which they’re calling their Liquid Center) is a $175 million dollar, 133,000-square-foot expansion that is expected to net some 400+ construction jobs and 140 permanent positions.

Dogged Litigation (Akron, OH) – Another brewery trademark battle brewing – this one between Ohio-based Thirsty Dog Brewery and Scottsdale, Arizona’s Sleeping Dog Brewery. At issue is the name Old Leghumper, which the Akron brewery trademarked 10 years earlier than the Arizona brewery’s opening, according to the Cleveland Scene. ACB’s position is that the name is a loser for both breweries. And that both companies would be better served rethinking their naming and imaging concepts before they spend tons of money beating each other up in court for a name that’s a potential turn-off to craft beer’s fast-growing female audience…just sayin’.

Craft Beer Politics Go from Stupid to Nuclear in the Sunshine State (Tallahassee, FL) – The fight down in Florida between craft brewers and Big Beer-funded distributors over the legalization of half-gallon beer containers has gone from stupid to dangerously provocative. The issue is simple enough and we’ve covered it endlessly this year. Basically, Florida allows breweries to fill quart and gallon growlers at their tap rooms – but the half-gallon size (the industry standard) remains illegal. A consortium of brewers, customers, and some lawmakers think the state should change this restriction and allow for the half gallon size, which is currently legal in 47 states. But according to a report filed by AP writer Brendan Farrington in The Republic ,”the politically powerful Anheuser-Busch InBev distributors have a powerful ally in Senate President Don Gaetz” and want to force breweries to buy their own beer from distributors at a markup before they can sell cans and bottles to brewery visitors. ACB sees this suggestion as one step short of extortion. After all, the breweries wouldn’t be receiving any services from the distributors for this charge. They’d be paying off middle-men for the right to sell their own beer at their own breweries to the fan base that they’ve nurtured. We think this proposal is total bullshit and if it goes any farther, we promise we will make this legislation a national issue – and those responsible will be shown to be the corrupt fools that they are. Stay tuned -we’re just getting warmed up!

A New Prairie Home (Tulsa, OK) – Oklahoma-based Prairie Artisan Ales has found a permanent home for their operation going forward and it sounds nice. Prairie Farm is located in Glenpool, Oklahoma. The site is 16 beautiful acres, with a pond and a backdrop of trees. There is an existing building (the old clubhouse from Cotton Creek Golf Course) that they plan on renovating and expanding another 4,000 square feet to house their new brewery, barrel room, & tasting room.